Kent man, 18, faces murder, robbery charges in death of 13-year-old boy

An 18-year-old Kent man faces first-degree murder and first-degree robbery charges for allegedly setting up an OfferUp deal to buy camera equipment that led to the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old Kent boy.

King County prosecutors charged Faysal Abdullahi July 23 with both crimes, including the death of Matthew Stavkoviy, who died of a gunshot wound to his back in the July 16 incident near Turnkey Park, 23300 100th Ave. SE, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Abdullahi did not fire the shot that killed Matthew, according to charging documents. But Abdullahi reportedly committed the crime of robbery that caused the death of Matthew as he tried to flee the scene.

Abdullahi is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 in the GA Courtroom of the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. He remains in the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle with bail set at $2 million, according to jail records.

“The defendant orchestrated an armed robbery that left a 13-year-old bystander dead and narrowly missed striking his 15-year-old sister with bullets,” Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas O’Ban wrote in charging documents. “He then fled the scene with his (three) accomplices.”

Kent Police arrested Abdullahi July 18 at his home in Kent. As of July 24, no other arrests have been made. Abdullahi told police he didn’t know the identity of the shooter, although he fled in the same vehicle as the shooter and two other males, according to charging documents.

O’Ban wrote that Abdullahi planned an approach route to the park and had a getaway driver.

“Despite the defendant’s young age, this shows a surprising amount of planning and forethought,” O’Ban wrote. “While the defendant himself may not have intended to kill any of the victims that night, he orchestrated and set in motion a chain of events that killed one and could have easily killed others.”

Matthew and his sister accompanied a juvenile friend to the park who had used OfferUP, an online mobile-first marketplace with an emphasis on in-person transactions, to sell a camera and equipment. Abdullahi reportedly replied to the ad and agreed to meet to buy the camera gear.

The two set up the deal through calling and texting one another. The male selling the gear and three others showed up at 8:58 p.m. July 16 at Turnkey Park. Abdullahi showed up with another male and then a third male wearing a face mask came out of the park and pulled out a pistol, according to charging papers.

The male selling the gear was knocked to the ground and his camera equipment contained within a silver case and a black backpack was forcibly removed from him, according to charging documents. He said he heard three or four gunshots and ran to hide.

Matthew’s sister told detectives that after seeing the masked man with a gun, she ran with her brother toward their four-wheel ATV with the intention to flee. They mounted the vehicle and heard a gunshot come from behind them. Matthew was the driver but then realized he had been shot and lost consciousness, so his sister took over driving.

The two headed toward the Kentwood Apartments, 22415 Benson Road SE, where the sister sought help of several residents who were outside. The residents called 911 to report the gunshot victim. Police and medics arrived and tried to save Matthew, but he died at the scene.

Police tracked down video from the nearby Olympic Skyline Apartments that showed a Ford Fusion backing into the parking lot with audio of gunshots and three individuals then running to the car, which drove away, according to charging papers.

Detectives used OfferUp account and cellphone information to track down Abdullahi at his Kent home. Detectives conducted surveillance at the residence and saw Abudllahi reportedly carrying the same camera bag taken in the robbery as he walked into a nearby residence, according to charging documents. Valley SWAT officers helped take Abdullahi into custody without incident at the home in the 12800 block of SE 275th Street.

Search warrants authorized for the two homes led to the discovery of the stolen camera bag and some of the equipment and the outfit that Abdullahi reportedly wore during the robbery, according to charging papers.

In an interview with detectives, Abdullahi admitted to setting up the OfferUp deal to buy the camera equipment. He said he arrived with two other males in a blue Ford sedan. He said one of the males remained as the driver of the car and the other one joined him at the park.

He claimed the masked man with the gun didn’t come with them to the park, but emerged and fired a gun. All three then ran to the blue Ford sedan and fled the scene, according to charging documents.

Cellphone data collected by detectives reportedly put Abdullahi in the area of Turnkey Park during the time of the robbery and shooting.

Matthew active in church

Matthew, 13, played an active role at Bread of Life Church in Kent, according to church videos.

The church held a prayer service for Matthew just one day after he was shot.

One of the speakers described Matthew and his family as being very involved in the church. Matthew would sing songs, preach sermons and read bible verses.

“I see a big setback for the family,” the speaker said. “Maybe in two or three years from now he (Matthew) would have been helping the father and brother with their work. In two or three years, he could have been plugged into this church as a minister and a powerful preacher like his brother.”

The church posted a video on its Facebook page of the Stavkoviy family singing in front of the church from three years ago, when Matthew was 10.

A Celebration of Life Service is planned for Matthew at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 28 at Way to Salvation Church, 1119 Central Ave. S., in Kent. Burial is Monday, July 29 at Enumclaw Evergreen Memorial Park.